signify

1 of 2

verb

sig·​ni·​fy ˈsig-nə-ˌfī 

signified; signifying

transitive verb

1

a

: to be a sign of : mean

b

: imply

2

: to show especially by a conventional token (such as word, signal, or gesture)

intransitive verb

1

: to have significance : matter

… it will not much signify what one wears …

—Jane Austen

2

: to engage in signifying

signifié

2 of 2

noun

si·​gni·​fié

¦sēnyəf¦yā

plural -s

: significatum

Did you know?

Signify basically means "to make a sign or signal". One of its synonyms is indicate; the index finger is the finger you point with, so to indicate is essentially to point to something. Significant means "important" and significance means "importance;" similarly, insignificant means "unimportant" and insignificance means "lack of importance".

Synonyms of signify

Verb

• mean
• matter
• weigh

Examples of signify in a Sentence

Verb

A check mark next to your name signifies that you have met all the requirements.

The recent decline of the stock market does not necessarily signify the start of a recession.

He gave her a diamond ring to signify his love.

Whether he agrees or not does not signify.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Later in the film, after the separation of the father from the rest of the family, the color red comes to signify a sense of desperation. — Matilda Hague, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026

Recording a new album became a therapeutic experience that signified a new artistic journey and a chance to discover himself in the process. — Adam Davidson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026

The pledge was signed by various national healthcare leaders, mental health experts, medical associations, behavioral care providers, and others who sought to signify their explicit support for the precepts embodied in the pledge. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Margaretha Zelle MacLeod’s stage name came to signify the epitome of the seductive female spy after she was executed by the French in 1917. — Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English signifien, from Anglo-French signifier, from Latin significare to indicate, signify, from signum sign

Noun

French, from past participle of signifier

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1939, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for signify

• abscissae
• adonai
• alibi
• alkali
• alumni
• amoebae
• amplify
• annuli
• beautify
• brachii
• butterfly
• calculi

Kids Definition

signify

verb

sig·​ni·​fy ˈsig-nə-ˌfī 

signified; signifying

1

: mean entry 2 sense 2, denote

2

: to show especially by a sign : make known

signified their agreement by nodding

3

: to have importance : matter

doesn't signify much what you wear